Dispensing containers having strong end closures



May 7, 1957 F. D. BERGSTEIN ET AL 2,791,

DISPENSING CONTAfINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Filed Dec. 20. 1954 sSheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN T Fjw/vx 2. 3596's ril- 4:59;; .5. him/sans, r/a,3Y finer lif/t-nwasea.

ATTORNEYS.

May 7, 1957 F. D. BERGSTEIN ET AL I 2,791,364

DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Filed Dec., 20, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS h'emvx .Z fisecsrslm 415360 3. dis/flaws,2/6,

Q zww ATTORNEYS.

May 7, 1957 F. D. BERGSTEIN ET AL 2,791,364

DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Filed Dec. 20, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 15 s Y s E M% N Tw 5 R E: a o r? T V55 5 T 2 A d 0a 0 sawxhw a B DISPENSING CONTAINERS HAVING STRONG END CLOSURES Frank D.Bergstein, Hamilton, and Alfred B. Kleingers,

Jan, and Robert W. Nerenberg, Middlctown, Ohio, assiguors to BergsteinPackaging Trust, a trust composed of Robert M. Bcrgstein and FrankD.Bergstein, trustees Application December 20, 1954, Serial No. 476,484

9 Claims. (Cl. 229- -17) Our invention relates to paperboard containers,and more specifically to liquid tight containers having fiat en'dclosures one of which is provided with a pouring opening covered by aliftable flap formed as an integral part of the end closure.

In the copending application of Frank D. Bergstein, Serial No. 414,558,filed March 8, 1954, and entitled Containers Having Strong End Closuresand Methods of Making Them, there is taught a container constructioncharacterized by strong end closures at both ends of the structure, thearrangement of parts being such that positive sealing pressure may beapplied to the end closures to effect the positive sealing of the partsthereof.

The instant invention relates to improvements in containers of thegeneral type taught .in the aforementioned copending application andrelates specifically to improved top closure constructions designed toenhance the strength of the top closure and improve its iiquid tightnessby effecting a more perfect seal between the various flaps making up theend closure.

It is a principal object of our invention to provide improved endclosure constructions capable of being sealed by positive sealingpressure and improved procedures for the positive sealing of the parts.

Yet a further object of our invention contemplates the provision of adispensing containerthavin g .a pouring opening formed in the topclosure thereof and covered by a liftable flap formed as an integralpart of the end closure, the arrangement of parts being such that theliftable flap may be readily raised to expose the pouring opening andjust as readily .reclosed when it is desired to re seal the container topreserve the remaining portion of the contents .in uncontaminatedcondition.

Yet a further object of our invention is the provision of a dispensingcontainer which may be readily proofed in accordance with the teachingsof Bergstein Patents Nos. 2,543,757 and 2,549,048.

These and other objects of our invention which willappear hereinafter orwhich will be apparent to the skilled worker in the art upon readingthese specifications, we accomplish by that construction and arrangementof parts and by those procedures of which we shall :now describe certainexemplaryembodiments. Reference is now made to the figures of thedrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of .a carton blank embodying a novel top closurein accordance with 'our invention.

Figure 2 is apartial plan view illustrating an alternative arrangementof closure flaps.

Figure 3 .is a plan view of the black of Figure l in tubed partition.

igure 4 is a perspective view illustrating exemplary means "foreffecting the initial folding of the top closure flaps.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating .a succeeding step in thefolding .of the top closure (flaps.

Figure 6 is a partial vertical sectional view illustrating theapplication of pressure means to pre-form the upper end of the containerb'od'y.

States Patent 0 Patented May 7, 1957 Figure 7 is a partial verticalsectional view similar to Figure6 illustrating the pressure applyingmeans in closedposition.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view illustrating the top of thecontainer subsequent to the application of the pressure means.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a corner of thecontainer illustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the upper endof the container in fully assembled condition.

Figure 11 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the line11-11 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Figure 11taken along the line 12-12 of Figure 10 with pressure applying meansillustrated diagrammatically in dotted lines.

Figure '13 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figure 10 butwith the liftable flap in raised position.

Figure -14 is a partial plan view of an alternative form of end closure.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of the end closure of Figure14 in the erected and closed position.

Figure 16 is a partial plan view of yet another form of closure blankmade in accordance with our invention.

Figure '17 illustrates yet another form of blank in accordance with 'ourinvention.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of the blank of Figure .17in erected condition prior to the infolding of the outermost closureflaps.

Figure 19 is a plan view of still another carton blank in accordancewith our invention.

FigureZO is a perspective view with parts broken away of a procedure.for applying pressure to crimp the edges of the container body wallsadjacent the top closure thereof.

Figure 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forming mandrelemployed in Figure 20.

Figure '22 is a fragmentary side .elevational view of the formingmandrel illustrated in Figure 21.

Figure 23 is an elevational view illustrating diagrammatically theapplication of external pressure means to the end of the container andillustrating in dotted lines the manner in which the container isremoved from the mandrel.

Figure 24 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the upper endof the container subsequent to its removal from the forming mandrel andprior to the infolding of the outermost closure flaps.

Figure 25 is a perspective view similar to Figure 24 but showing theforming members in contact with the upper end of the container.

Figure 26 is a "fragmentary side elevational view of the containerillustrated in Figure :25 in the closed position, pressure applyingmeans being diagrammatically illustr'at'ed.

Referring now to Figure -1 of the drawings we have therein illustrated acontainer blank comprising body walls'l, '2, 3 and 4 in articulation inthe order named and a sglue flap 5 connected to the free side edge ofthe body wall i for tubing the structure. Bottom ,closure flaps 6, "7, 8and 9 are provided on the bottom edges of the body walls. At its top thebody wall v1 is provided with a full width outermost closure flap 10having a liftable flap portion 11 formed therein, the littable flapportion having projecting edges 11a and 11b extending beyond thecorresponding edges of the closure flap 1 9. The lift'able flap portionis articulated to the flap 10 along a line of score 12 diagonallydisposed with respect to the side edges of the flap .10.

Narrow closure flaps or flanges 15, i4 and .155 are articulated,respectively, to the upper edges 'of the body 3 walls 2, 3 and 4, thenarrow flanges being separated from each other by the triangular cutouts16 and 17. A substantially full width intermediate closure flap 18 ishinged- 'ly articulated to the side edge of outermost closure flap andspaced therefrom by a distance suflicient to define v depressible orbendable wall po1tions 2a, 3a and 4a.

The blank will be tubed by infolding the body walls 1 and 4 along thelines of articulation 23 and 24, respectively, thereby bringing thestructure to the condition illustrated in Figure 3, it being understoodthat adhesive 25 will have been applied to the glue flap 5 prior to theinfolding of the parts. This folding operation may be carried out on aconventional container gluing machine, the blanks being moved in adirection paralleling the lines of articulation 23 and 24. The line forseverance 28 which serves to join the intermediate closure flap'18 tothe flange 13 will maintain the closure flap in alignment with theremainder of the blank, which might not be the case were the closureflap 18 free to fold along the score line 19. In this connection, itwill be noted that the line of articulation 19 is a prolongation of theline of articulation 23 and consequently the folding instrumentalityused to infold the body wall 1 will concurrently infold the closure flapand juxtapose it on the intermediate closure flap 18, in the mannerillustrated in I Figure 3.

Subsequent to tubing, the blank will be erected and placed over amandrel with the bottom flaps 6, 7, 8, and 9 uppermost, whereupon thebottom closure flaps will be infolded and sealed across the end of themandrel with p the application of external pressure to the closureflaps. Sealing the bottom flaps in this fashion assures a positive andtight closure at the bottom of the container. The container, with itsbottom end sealed, will then be removed from the mandrel and placedupright in a cage or upon other suitable conveying means for subsequenttreatment of the top closure.

As the container is moved along in upright position, the outermostclosure flap 10 and intermediate closure flap 18 will be jointlyoutfolded and supported from beneath on a plate, such as the plate 26seen in Figure 4. The outfolding of the closure flap 10 willautomatically disengage the closure flap 18 from the flange 13, the twomembers parting along the line for severance 20. Upon outfolding of theclosure flaps, adhesive 27 will be applied to the exposed surface ofclosure flap 18 or to the mating surface of closure flap 10, whereuponthe flaps will be elevated to the vertical position, as by means of asweep 28. A folding bar 29 will engage closure flap 18 and fold itrearwardly onto closure flap 10 in the manner diagrammaticallyillustrated in Figure 4. Care must be taken in applying the adhesive 27so that no portion thereof will contact the liftable flap portion 11upon juxtaposition of the closure flaps. As illustrated in Figure 5 itis desirable to pass the juxtaposed closure flaps 10 and 18 betweenpressure rolls 30 and 31 to positively press the flaps together andassure a good bond between them.

Upon moving beyond the pressure rolls, the container will be contactedby an internal pressure member 32 (Figure 6) which travels with thecontainer and is adapted to enter its upper end. External pressuremembers, such as the members 33 and 34, also travel with the containerand coact with the recessed ledges, such as the ledges 35 and 36, of theinternal pressure member to crimp or bend inwardly the upper endportions 2a and 4a of the body walls 2 and 4, the body walls bendinginwardly along the scoreline 22. At the same time the narrow flanges,such as the flanges 13 and 15, will be bent outwardly by the coaction ofthe pressure members to the position illustrated in Figure 7. It will beunderstood that the internal pressure member 32 will be configured onthree sides, with a corresponding number of external pressure members,so as to also crimp inwardly the upper wall portion 3a of body wall 3and concurrently fold outwardly the flange 14.

As can be best seen in Figures 7 and 8, the inward displacement of theupper edges of the body wall portions 20, 3a and 4a is substantiallyequal to the width of the flanges 13, 14 and 15, thereby aligning thefree edges of the flanges with the planes of the body walls. The freeedges of the flanges are also aligned with the edges of the overlyingfull width closure flaps 10 and 18 so that subsequent infolding of theseflaps will juxtapose their edge portions on the flanges. As seen inFigure 8, a peripheral stripe of adhesive 37 will be applied to theexposed undersurface of closure flap 18- whereupon the closure flapswill be infolded to bring theiredge portions into adhesive contact withthe narrow flanges.

As best seen in Figure 9 the narrow flanges come together in miteredcorners, the triangular cutouts 16 and 17 (Figure 1) acting to cut offthe ends of the flanges to provide for the mitered fit.

It is desirable to seal the closure flaps 1.0 and 18 to the flangesunder positive sealing pressure, and to this end supporting fingers,such as the fingers 38 and 39 (Figure 12) are provided to engage beneaththe outturned flanges 13 and 15, whereupon an external pressure plate 40may be brought to bear upon the upper surface of closure flap 10,thereby tightly sealing the parts together under positive pressure.While not shown, it will be understood that a similar finger will beprovided to support the flange 14. When sealed in this fashion theresulting end closure is extremely sturdy and exceptionally tight. Theoutermost and intermediate flaps are positively sealed together and theyin turn are positively sealed to the flanges which extend about theremaining sides of the container. The containers may be tightly packedin a shipping crate having no portion thereof extending beyond theirbody walls and at the same time, their recessed upper ends permit themto be readily gripped by the user.

Following the positive pressure sealing of the end flaps in the mannerdescribed above, the carton will be proofed internally by means ofcastings of sealing substance formed across the ends of the container inthe manner taught in the aforementioned copending application Serial No.414,558, thereby providing, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, aninterior end casting 41 bonded to the body walls and end of thecontainer and including the severable plug portion 42 bonded to theundersurface of the liftable flap portion 11 and adapted to break awayfrom the body of the casting when the liftable flap portion 11 israised. The subsequent closing of the liftable flap portion will causethe plug 42 to reenter the opening formed in the casting, therebyforming a tight reseal for the container. When initially sealed, it willbe understood that the extending edge portions 11a and 11b of theliftable flap will be folded or crimped about the adjacent edges of theflanges 14 and 15 to lock the liftable flap in the closed position.

In Figure 2, we have illustrated a modification of the container blankwherein the flanges 13, 14 and 15 are separated from each other by linesof cut 43 and 44 rather than by the triangular cutouts 16 and 17, as inFigure 1. While this eliminates the mitered fit of the flanges at thecorners, we have found this construction to be wholly adequate,particularly where the flanges are relatively narrow and not likely tobunch at the corners.

While in the embodiments thus far described the upper ends of the bodywalls are bent inwardly so as to align the outer edges of the narrowflanges with the side walls of the container, it is also within thespirit of our invention to utilize the same flap construction in an endclosure in which the narrow flaps extend outwardly beyond the bodywalls, thereby eliminating the necessity for crimping inwardly the topportions of the body walls. To this end, the container blank -isconstructed in the manner illustrated in Figure 14 wherein it will beseen that the full width closure flap so is provided with extending sideedges 51 and 52 which eiiectively increase the width of the flap Siibeyond the cross sectional dimensions or the container body byadistanceequivalent 'to the widths of the opposed narrow flanges 53 and'54 which the said extensions are adapted to overlie in the sealedstructure. An inter-mediate full width closure flap "SS is providedhaving -'a pouring opening '56 therein; but since the line ofarticulation 5'7 connecting intermediate closure flap 55 to outermostclosure flap 5'0 is oliset laterally with respect to the line ofarticulation 23 connecting the body walls 1 and 2, the flap 55 isseparated from the underlying flanges 53 and 58 by a line of-cut '59. Ifclosure flapSS were detachably connected to the underlying flanges 53,the parts could not be folded on an ordinary folding and gluing machinesincec-losure flap 55 must be free to move laterally as the body wall 1is intolded along the line of articulation 23.

When assembled the blank of Figure '1-4 will assume the conditionillustrated in Figure 15 wherein it will be seen that the narrowflanges, such as the'fl'anges 53 and 54, extend outwardly from theplanes of the body walls to which they are attached and are contacted"by edge portions of the intermediate closure fi'ap '55. Similarly, theextending edge portions '51 and '52 of the outermost closure flap 5doverlie the extending flanges. It will be understood that a peripheralstripe of adhesive 'will be applied to the undersur fac'e of closureflap 55 and the flanges will be supported from beneath by suitablefingers so that a pressure applying member similar to the member 40(Figure 12) may be employed to press the parts together to eifect apositive seal.

The blank illustrated in Figure 16 also contemplates the use of narrowflanges extending outwardly beyond the planes of the body walls, but inthis instance flanges are provided on allfour body walls, the body wall1 being provided with a flange 61 and outermost closure flap 50 with anextension 62 to compensate for the width of the flange. Preferably theintermediate flap 55 will be articulated both to the flap 50 and to theextension 62 in the manner illustrated. It will be understood that thisend closure will be folded and seated in substantially the same manneras the end closure of Figure 14 excepting supporting fingers will beprovided for all four flanges.

Figure 17 illustrates a modification of the blank illustrated in Figure1 wherein the body wall 1 is provided with a flange 53 and acontinuation of the score line 22 defining body wall portion 1a, therebyproviding a structure having flanges on all four sides in which the'outermost edges of the flanges are in alignment with the body Walls. Itwill be understood that the width of the outer most flap will beincreased by an amount equal to the width of the flange 63 to compensatefor the width of the flange. Pressure exerting means will be provided,similar to those illustrated in Figure 12, for supporting the flangesduring the application of sealing pressure to the outermost flap.

Figure 18 illustrates the top closure formed from the blank of Figure 17just prior to the infolding of the full width flaps and their adhesivelyattachment to the outturned narrow flanges.

In Figures 19 through 26, we have illustrated yet another form ofcontainer blank and its fabrication into a completed container. Theblank corresponds substantially to the blank illustrated in Figure 2excepting in this instance the score line 22 is omitted, the inwarddeflection of the upper edge portions of the body walls being solely bymeans of the pressure members hereinafter described. As best seen inFigures 20 and 21, the blank, after it has been tubed, is fitted topdownwardly over a mandrel 70 havin a flat upper end over which thebottom closure flaps maybe folded and sealed, as by means of a pressureplate 71. At its lower end the faces of the mandrel contacted by bodywalls 2, 3 and 4 are recessed, as at 72, 73 and 74, the recessedportions being arranged, as'best seen in Figure 22, to coincide with theupper ends of the body walls. Thus the upper ends of the "body walls maybe cn'mped or deflected inwardly into the recesses by means of externalpressure members 75, 76 and 77 seen in Figure 20. These externalpressure members also act to fold the narrow flanges outwardly in themanner best seen in Figure 23.

Subsequent to the container being acted upon by the external pressuremembers 75, 7'6 and 77, it may be thereafter withdrawn from the mandrel,the resiliency of the box-board serving to permit readywithdrawal of theinwardly deflected end portions thereof. Upon being uprighted, the upperend of the container will then be acted upon by external forming members78, 79 and 80 which will serve to press inwardly the initially deflectedportions of the body walls to bring them into proper position to becontacted by the full width closure flaps. The initial deflecting of thebody walls while on the mandrel enables us to employ the externalforming members 7-8, '79 and 80 without using an internal pressuremember, such as that employed in Figures 6 and 7. in addition, theexternal forming members 78, 79 and 80 may be used, when in the positionillustrated in Figure 25, to support the narrow flanges during thepressure sealing of the outermost flaps thereto, as by means of thepressureplate 81 shown in Figure 26. We have also found it desirable tocutaway a small portion of the body wall 1 adjacent its upper end, as at'82 (Figure 1'9). This acts to compensate for the extra thickness ofboard at the corner resulting from the glue flap 5. This extra thickness of board makes it more diflicult to crimp in the corner of thecarton and the cut out portion 82 relieves this condition.

It will be understood that internal end castings of sealing substancemaybe employed with any of the modifications described or may be omittedas the conditions of use may dictate. Similarly, while we have indicateda preference for securing the various flaps and flanges making up theend closures by means of adhesive, it will be understood that theboxboard from which the containers are formed may be provided with 'avinyl or other similar coating which will render the parts heatscalable, in which event the pressure applying means may be providedwith suitable heating means effective to heat seal the -flaps. Othermodifications which will be apparent to the skilled worker in the artupon reading this specification, may be made without departing from thespirit of our invention.

Having, however, described our invention in certain exemplaryembodiments, what we desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A blank for a one-piece tubular container of rectan gular crosssection comprising a sheet of paperboard cut and scored to provide fourbody wall panels and a glue flap in side-by-side articulation, bottomclosure flaps at one end of said body wall panels, and top closuremembers at the opposite ends of said body wall panels, said top closuremembers comprising integral narrow flange forming extensions projectingbeyond the upper ends of at least three of said body wall panels, asubstantially full width closure flap articulated to the upper end ofthe remaining body wall panel, and a second substantially full widthclosure flap articulated to a side edge of said first named closureflap, said second closure flap lying immediately beyond the flangeforming extension of the container body wall panel next adjacent thebody wall panel to which said first closure flap is articulated, saidsecond closure flap having a pouring opening formed therein in the outercorner thereof remote from the line of articulation between said closureflaps, said first closure flap having a liftable flapportion formedtherein in a position to overlie said pouring opening when said closureflaps are juxtaposed.

2. A dispensing container formed from a one-piece paperboard blank, saidcontainer having body walls forming a tubular body and end closuresclosing the ends of said body, one of said end closures being adispensing closure composed of three relatively narrow flangesarticulated to the upper edgs of three of said body walls, said narrowflanges extending outwardly relative to said body walls so as to lie ina common horizontal plane, a first full width closure flap hingedlyarticulated to the upper edge of the remaining container body wall andformed as an integral extension thereof, a second substantially fullwidth closure flap integrally articulated to a side edge of said firstclosure flap, said closure flaps being juxtaposed and bonded together inface-to-face relation to form a double thickness closure element, saidclosure element being folded inwardly along the line of articulationbetween said first closure flap and said remaining body wall andjuxtaposed and adhesively secured to said extending flanges to form asealed end closure, a dispensing opening in the underlying one of saidclosure flaps, and a liftable flap portion in the uppermost of saidclosure flaps, said liftable flap portion overlying and closing saiddispensing opening so as to provide a reclosable cover therefor.

3. A dispensing container formed from a one-piece and formed as anintegral extension thereof, a second 1 substantially full width closureflap integrally articulated to a side edge of said first closure flap,said closure flaps being juxtaposed and secured together in face-to-facerelation to form a double thickness closure element, said closureelement being folded inwardly along the line of articulation between thefourth body wall and said first closure flap and juxtaposed andpermanently secured along three marginal edge portions to said extendingflanges to form a sealed end closure, a dispensing opening formed in theunderlying one of said closure flaps in a corner thereof remote from theline of articulation of said first closure flap to said fourth bodywall, and a liftable flap portion in the uppermost of said closureflaps, said liftable flap portion overlying and closing said dispensingopening and covering the corner of the end closure contiguons saiddispensing opening.

4. A blank for a one-piece tubular container of rectangular crosssection comprising a sheet of paperboardcut and scored to provide fourbody wall panels and aglue lap in side-by-side articulation, bottomclosure flaps at one end of said body wall panels, and topclosuremembers at the opposite ends of said body wall panels, said topclosure members comprising integral narrow flange forming extensionsprojecting beyond the upper end of at least three of said body wallpanels, a substantially full width closure flap articulated to the upperend of the remaining body wall panel, and a second substantially fullwidth closure flap articulated to a side edge of said first namedclosure flap, said second closure flap lying immediately beyond theflange forming extension of the container body wall panel next adjacentthe body wall panel to 'which said first closure flap is articulated,one of said closure flaps having a pouring opening formed therein in theouter corner thereof remote from the line of articulation between saidclosure flaps, the other of said closure flaps having a liftable flapportion formed therein in a position to overlie said pouring openingwhen said closure flaps are juxtaposed.

5. The container blank claimed in claim 4 wherein said first closureflap is of a width greater than the width of the body wall panel towhich it is connected and projects outwardly beyond the side edges ofthe said body wall panel, wherein the line of articulation connectingsaid second closure flap to said first closure flap is offset laterallywith respect to the line of articulation between said last named bodywall panel and the said next adjacent body wall panel, and wherein saidsecond closure flap has a width substantially equal to the width of saidfirst closure flap.

6. The container blank claimed in claim 4 wherein the line ofarticulation connecting said first and second closure flaps is formed inprolongation of the line of articulation connecting the body wall panelto which said first closure flap is articulated to the said nextadjacent body wall panel.

7. The container blank claimed in claim 6 wherein said second closureflap is connected to the flange forming extension beyond which it liesby means of a line for severance.

8. The container blank claimed in claim 7 wherein said flange formingextensions are defined by score lines separating them from the ends ofsaid body wall panels to which they are attached.

9. The container blank claimed in claim 8 in which the body wall panelsto which said flange forming extensions are attached are scored along aline paralleling the top edges of said body wall and spaced therefrom bya distance sufficient to define inwardly deflectable wall portions inthe erected container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,272,203 Hothersall Feb. 10, 1942 2,276,332 Nordquist Mar. 17, 19422,409,460 Waters Oct. 15, 1946 2,555,526 Zinn June 5, 1951 2,581,237Casler Jan. 1, 1952 2,593,019 Glaser Apr. 15, 1952 2,671,596 Taylor Mar.9, 1954

